Province to coastal communities: Prepare for rising seas

In a report released last week, the government of British
Columbia is warning coastal communities about the dangers of rising sea levels,
which, says the report, are intensifying.

According to
Projected
Sea Level Changes for British Columbia in the 21
st
Century
,
sea levels around Vancouver could rise as much as 1.03 metres, or as little as
.04 metres, by the year 2100.

“The extreme high estimates exceed the International Panel on
Climate Change 2007 sea level rise projections,” reads the report. “Decisions
regarding land use, economic development and major long-term infrastructure
projects must consider local sea level change to effectively manage risks and
reduce vulnerability.”

The projections were gleaned from tidal gauges set up around
the coast. According to the report, they coincide with similar documents from
the University of Washington and the Washington Department of Ecology,
specifically a study published in January 2008. In June of this year, British
Columbia and Washington state signed a memorandum of understanding to
investigate the science involved in sea level projections, as well as develop
strategies to inform communities perched on the coastline.

“This report highlights why it is so important that we continue
to aggressively combat climate change by reducing carbon emissions, while
helping to prepare all British Columbians for, and protect them from, the
negative consequences of climate change,” said provincial Environment Minister
Barry Penner in a press release.

The report did not offer projections for Howe Sound. It also
noted that natural factors like vertical land movements and Pacific Northwest
climate patterns cause sea levels to vary greatly from point to point along
British Columbia’s coastline.

Squamish Mayor Greg Gardner called the report’s findings
interesting.

“Certainly, we will consider the information in the report,” he
said in an interview with
Pique.

Much of downtown Squamish is below sea level, including areas
planned for further development, such as the Oceanfront Peninsula.

The report highlights intense storm activity as a danger to
such developments, as surges can cause sea levels to rise in excess of one
metre above current and projected heights. Meanwhile, run-up effects, which are
caused by features on the ocean floor, can compound that problem. The complete
disaster scenario is described as one involving a major storm at high tide
during an El Nino year.

Members of the Squamish Downtown Neighbourhood Association
(SDNA) have long been warning against development below the sea level in the
town’s downtown core. Often, SDNA members point to a 1991 report to prove this
point. However, in previous interviews with
Pique
,
Director of Planning Cameron Chalmers brushed aside those concerns, saying that
building practices have improved significantly over the past 20 years, and that
developers and council are both cognizant of the risks.

In 2007, the province announced a $100 million flood protection
program. Further, $94.5 million was channelled through the Ministry of
Environment to support the Pacific Institute for Climate Change Solutions and
the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium.

“My wish is that 2009 doesn't become a continuation of Canadian
environmental talk and no action,” said John Buchanon, a Squamish Valley
Conservationist. “People are now very quick to drop catchy eco-phrases in the
hopes of sounding proactive, but the reality is that Canadians have their heads
in a rose pile while their environment continues to degrade around them.”